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THIE! 



CITY OF ST. LOUIS 



ITS 



1 



ttiilo Somplmieuts of 



)TRIES, 



DELIVERED BEFORE THE STATE IMMIGRATION CONVENTION. HELD IN 
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, APRIL, 1880. 




SAINT LOUIS : 

VVOOI.WAKD. TIEKNAN & HALE, PkINTEKS, BINDERS AND ENGRAVERS, 212 LOCUST STREET, 

1880. 



Tr 



THLE 



CITY OF ST. LOUIS:' 



ITS 



STORY, Growth and Industries. 



Address by HENRY OVERSTOLZ, Mayor, 



DEI.IVERED BEFORE THE STATE IMMIGRATION CONVENTIOxV, HELD IN 
THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS, APRIL, iSSo. 




SAINT LOUIS : 

WOODVVAUU. TIERNAN & HALE, PRINTERS, BINDERS AND ENGRAVERS, 212 LoCUST STREET, 

1880. 



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Xaa/ . vv. 



In the fall of last year a movement originated in St. Louis 
having for its object the promotion of immigration to the State of 
Missouri. It was warmly supported by many public spirited citizens, 
and resulted in the formation of the St. Louis Immigration Society, 
which rapidly acquired a numerous and influential membership. This 
Society issued an address to the people of the State, urging the organi- 
zation in each County of a similar society, the objects of which shall be 
" to advertise and call the attention of capitalists and emigrants to the 
commercial and agricultural advantages" of the county represented by 
the Society. A convention, composed of delegates from all the counties 
was also called to assemble at St. Louis, April 13th, 1880, for the 
purpose of specifically considering the question of immigration, and a 
number of citizens in difierent portions of the State were invited to 
prepare papers to be read before the Coavention on subjects kindred 
thereto. 

The following Address was prepared in accordance with an 
invitation tendered to the Mayor of St. Louis, and if incomplete in 
any particular, the fact should ])e attributed to the short notice eiven, 
the pressure of official engagements, and the difficulty of obtaining full 
and exact statistics. 



Si. Lout's, A;pril 20th, 1880. 



THE CITY OF ST, LOUIS, 



ITS HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES. 



Address by Henry Overstolz, Mayor, Delivered before 
THE State Immigration Convention. 



This convention, as I understand its objects, originates in a desire to 
present to the world, in a relial)le and comprehensive manner, the natural 
advantages and true condition of the State of Missouri, with a view of 
stimulating immigration and inviting capital. The earnest and patriotic 
spirit which has created this occasion and inspired all the preliminary 
arrangements forlnds any attempt at ordinary speech making. What is 
wanted here is the argument of facts alone, faithfully and forcibly 
stated, and without ornament or exaggeration. The unquestionable 
advantages of this great State, in fertility of soil, in climate, geographical 
situation, and all the elements necessary for the highest civilization and 
the most stable prosperity, are sufficiently known to our own people. 
What is said here is not addressed to them, but to the world outside our 
own ])oundaries, and chiefly to that portion of the population of the older 
countries now seeking or about to seek, homes in the Western world. 
A mighty tide of humanit}'^ is once again setting strongly towards the 
United States from the shores of the old worlds and it is our aim to so 
influence it that Missouri may receive its just proportion of fresh ele- 
ments of strength. There is only one way to accomplish this success- 
fully and honorably, and that is by the presentment of the Truth, 
accompanied by such facts and figures as fully illustrate and explain its 
extent and character. In what I have to say respecting the city of St. 
Louis I shall be controlled by the idea just indicated. My aim will be 
to present a clear picture of the city as it is to-day, commercially and 
socially, with a review of its history, characteristics and growth, and a 
brief forecast of its future — a picture such as a foreigner can understand 
and feel disposed to l)elieve, and the details of which can be readily 
verified. 



6 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS ITS SITUATION AND CHARACTERISTICS. 

There are some preliminary htatements that seem to me advisable 
before submitting statistical or descriptive details respecting the city of 
St. Louis. In the first place it should be understood that the origin 
and growth of the city cannot be attributed to rare or exceptional causes, 
and in the second, that the peculiar spirit and characteristics of its people 
have given a distinctive shape and color to its history, and have largely 
contributed to the stalulity and permanence of its prosperity, and to 
extend and strengthen its commercial influence. There is no city in the 
Union, and perhaps in the world, the history of which exhibits a more 
remarkable freedom from commercial panics and reactions than St. Louis. 
It is now somewhat over a century old, and during that period it has 
advanced by steady degrees, from a trading post, established on the 
bank of a majestic river, amid an unpeopled solitude, to a metropolis, 
the centre of an industrial and commercial activity, whose influence is 
difl'used throughout the world. This marvelous transformation, accom- 
plished almost within the compass of the memory of living men, has been 
unattended by violent or si)asmodic efforts — it has been truly legitimate 
and irresistible growth, based on the enduring forces of nature. I do 
not mean to intimate that the growth of the city has been uniform in 
every decade, but that it has been unceasing, and remarkably free from 
extraordiuiiry commercial depressions. The national calamity of civil 
Wiir inter[)()sed an apparently insurmountable obstacle to our municipal 
progress, owing to the situation of the city, but the result showed that 
the growth of a great city cannot be retarded, except hy destruction. 
The interruption was only transient, and the last twenty years, from 
I8(i0 to 1880, have witnessed the greatest rapidity of gro^vth in our civic 
history. In 1860 the population was 100,770, in 1870 310, 9H3, and this 
year, IS.SO, it is undoubtedly over 500,000. This enormous increase in 
population, during a p(U"iod that includes a national convulsion, destruc- 
tive to all forms of industry, undoubtedly proves that the vitality of our 
prosperity is drawn from deep and well protected sources. 

In eliminating rare and accidental causes from the explanation of 
the city's origin and growth, my meaning is, that natural advantages 
of situation have controlled and fashioned both. The birth of cities is, 1 
1 )resume, never accidental , because certain pre-requisites in the geographical 
situation are essential. A center of population and commercial activity 
caiHU)t be established except the surrounding country atford supplies of 
water, fuel and food, the raw product for manufacturing industry, and 
means of access to the sea. In the original selection of the site of St. Louis 



or THE CITY OF ST. LODIS. 7 

there may have been no deliberate forecast of its possibilities, for it was 
hard to dream of a mighty city arising in a lonely wilderness, but natural 
advantagesof situation undoubtedly controlled the matter. So fortunate 
was the choice, that although those who made it were almost wholly 
ignorant of the country, our perfected knowledge of to-day could not 
improve upon it. All the natural features and conditions necessary to 
fix the site and encourage the growth of a metropolis were happily com- 
bined, and I need not fear the criticism of enthusiasm or exagfo^eration in 
making this statement, for the facts of nature are as apparent now as on 
the day that Laclede fixed his camp. A superb river fiowing unobstructed 
to the sea, and affording access northward and westward to the interior of 
of the continent, a fertile undulating country stretching away on all 
sides for hundreds of miles, with forest and prairie in such happy juxta- 
position that the hand of the husbandman was only lacking to gather the 
best fruits of the earth, a mild and salubrious climate, materials for 
building, whether in brick, stone or wood, in abundance, and incalculable 
riches in iron and coal. These were the inducements of nature for the 
founding of a city, and it is these fortunate and perennial facts that sup- 
port the fabric of our municipal greatness and influence. 

St. Louis is essentially the result — the creature of the limitless and 
fertile regions that surround it. It is the outgrowth of the development 
and settlement of the country, of the natural laws incident to human 
progress, and it is because of this that its prosperity is more stable than 
that of any western city and its future more assured — its prosperity is 
not dependent on any special trade or industry, but on the constant 
and united productions and wants of a wonderful country, traversed b^^ 
navigable rivers in all directions and continually increasing in wealth and 
population. Without indulging in any speculations respecting the 
destiny of St. Louis as a national capital, it seems quite within the 
bounds of sober reason to anticipate that the same causes which have 
made it the city it is to-day, must greatly enlarge and enrich it in the 
future. We know that it is a fact that this magnificent valley of the 
Mississippi possesses at present only a fraction of the population it is 
capable of sustaining, and that, as its settlement advances, as its agricul- 
tural, mineral and manufacturing possibilities are developed, the central 
capital must expand and grow contemporaneously with its tri!)utary 
territor^^ It is rational, I say, to expect, that unless political convulsions 
interfere to retard progress, this city must become the controlling inland 
city of the continent — situated as it is about the middle of the greatest 
food producing country in the world, with a free water-way to the sea and 
a system of rivers penetrating to the interior north, south and west, it is 



8 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

rapidly becoming the distributing point and emporium of the great West 
and drawing to itself incalculable elements of wealth. 

The substantial and practical causes underlying the city's growth, 
have been reflected in the spirit and character of its citizens. The ruling 
characteristic of our business men has been thrift and prudence. I have 
often heard the criticism that they were lacking in adventure and enter- 
prise, but to those familiar with our local affairs there is no foundation 
for the charge. The disposition of our merchants is, to extend business 
only by regular and legitimate methods, and to establish it on a solid 
and reliable basis ; to advance equally with the development of the 
country, and not ahead of it. It certainly can be truthfully said of 
St. Louis, that there is less rash and reckless speculation among its 
people, and less indebtedness and more solid wealth and private owner- 
ship of property, in proportion to population, than in any other city of 
the country. It is this wise and steady spirit that has laid the founda- 
tion of nearly all of our industrial and commercial enterprises, and given 
strength and permanence to our prosperity. I shall always l)elieve that 
l)rogress inspired in this wdy is more safe and more certain than an}^ 
other, and more promising of future results, 

THE CITY AND ITS RELATIONS TO THE STATE. 

The growth of the city of ,St. Louis has been more rapid propor- 
tionately, than that of tiie State of Missouri, owing to the causes I have 
briefly indicated. Tlie uuited influences of western progress have assisted 
to accelerate it, while the State's advancement has necessarily been in 
correspondence with the development of the agricultural and mineral 
resources within its boundaries. The city's prosperity, however, is the 
State's prosperity. There is and should be no separation of interest. 
The State has granted to the city almost entire control of its domestic 
concerns, as will be shown in the sketch of the city government else- 
where presented, and this has been done in order to encourage civic 
spirit and enterprise. The city of St. Louis, in its commercial influence, 
its wealth, its institutions of charity and of learning, must always be the 
glory of the State of Missouri, and on the other hand the people of the 
city feel a just pride in the noble State, of which they form a part, so 
rich ill the gifts of nature, so felicitous in situation, and so rapidly 
advancing in prosperity. The influence of the city on the State is, natur- 
ally, greatcu" than that of the State on the city, because more conceii- 
trated and direct. A cDnimercial metropolis is never wholly depeiulent 
on immediately adjacent country — it is the outgrowth of a great region 
;md of the industry of a mighty people. St. Louis is the product of the 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. iJ 

industry and commerce of the Great West, and not of the State of 
Missouri alone, but the development of the State, and the construction 
of its system of railroads, have largely contributed to the city's growth. 
On the other hand, the markets created by the city, and the capital and 
enterprise centralized in it, and its system of railroad and river transpor- 
tation to the sea and the other great cities North, South and East, attract 
population to the State, and form the grand lever of its progress. Un- 
questionably it should be the aim and policy of the State to assist in 
eveiy way the advancement of the city, the extension of its trade, and 
the protection of its interests, for by so doing it directly assists its own 
wealth and welfare. 

The relation of the city to the State in reference to taxation and 
revenue, is illustrated by the following figures, derived from the most 
recent assessments : 

1877. 1878. 

Taxable wealth of the State, $399,245,205 |415,8(i8,365 

" City, 181,346,795 173,670,620 

Total taxable value of City } |58o,592,000 $589,538,98^5 

and State, . . . > 

These assessments are not probably more than three-fifths the actual 
value of property, and they are presented only for the purpose of show- 
ing the relative taxal)le values of the city and State. During the same 
years the total receii^ts by the State Treasury from taxes and licenses for 
State revenue and interest funds were as follows : 

1877, $2,203,785,11, 1878, $2,632,557.55 

Of these amounts, St. Louis city paid in 1877, $739,950.70, and in 1878, 
$929,092.80. Of course, the receipts for the two funds named consti- 
tute only a portion of the State revenue ; the aggregate receipts of the 
State treasury for the years 1877 and 187S from all sources was $(i,545,- 
620.97. The comparative figures given, however, fairly indicate the 
financial relation of the city to the State. On the basis of the fig- 
ures for 1877, St. Louis represents more than two-fifths of the 
taxable wealth of the whole State -in fact not far from one-half — and 
for the same year it paid more than fifty per cent, of the entire amount 
of taxes and licenses collected from the 114 counties composing the 
State, The figures for 1878 afford nearly the same results when the 
assessment is corrected. A moderate estimate of the jjopulation of the 
cit}' places it between 500,000 and 600,000, or something over one-fourth 
the population of the State outside the city limits. 



10 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

II is a point of much importance and of particular bearing on the 
agricultural and mineral development of the State, that St. Louis, either 
by river or rail, is easily accessible from nearl}' every county. This is 
one of the many inducements that Missouri offers to immigration. There 
is no portion of the State that is not within convenient distance of a 
commercial metro})()lis, and with available means of transportation for the 
products of the field, the mine, or the manufactory, to a ready market, 
and to a point where such product can be promptly forwarded to any 
place in the old or new world. The farmer in the State of Missouri is 
never beyond the influence of the steadiest maiket in the country for all 
kinds of farm products, and where he can be alwavs assured of the best 
current prices. 

A GLANCE AT CITY HISTORY AND GROWTH. 

A detailed review of the history and growth of St. Louis is not to 
be expected here. It is sufficient to present such facts as convey a clear 
view of the city's history and progress. 

The city was founded in the month of February, 1764, by an expe- 
dition headed by Laclede, and which was organized in New Orleans, for 
the purpose of establishing a trading post and promoting the exploration 
and settlement of the vast regions stretching northward and traversed by 
the Mississippi. The fur trade with the Indians was i)robably the prac- 
tical object of the proposed enterprise, but doubtless that love of adven- 
ture which has always exercised so large an influence in the development 
of new and unknown lands, was the feeling that inspired most of the 
members of the party. There had been some exploration of the interior 
of the continent by La Salle, Hennepin, Maniuette and others, and a few 
military posts had been established, but there was no general knowledge 
respecting it, and it was still invested Avith the romance of the unknown. 
The very ownership of the immense territory was vague and undefined, 
so for as European powers were concerned ; and it appears that Laclede, 
when he established his camp on the present site of St. Louis, named 
the end)yro town after a French monarch, when the territory west of the 
Mississippi had been really ceded to Spain. The voyage up the Missis- 
sippi in the rude roats of that day required nearly three months, and 
although file party left New Orleans early in August, they did not arrive at 
Ste. Genevieve until Octol)er. A brief delay took place at this settlement, 
and then Laclede proceeded to Fort de Chartres, and thence as far north 
as the junction of the Missouri and Mississippi rivers; and on his return, 
the selection of the jiresent site of St. Louis was made, as a i)lace for a 
permanent post. The first settlers were few in number, but they were 



or THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 11 

men of energy and industry, and it appears from historical data that 
rapid progress Avas made in building houses and establishing a reoular 
and well protected post. When the Fort de Chartres was surrendered 
to the English, in accordance with the provisions of the treaty of Paris, 
the garrison, commanded by Louis St. Ange de Bellerive, was 
transferred to St. Louis, and the post acquired ncAv influence and impor- 
tance. Between the years 17()() and 1770 decided steps were taken by 
the Spanish government to assert its control over the vast provinces of 
Upper and Lower Louisiana. In 1771 St. Louis Avas taken possession 
f)f by Don Pedro Piernas, who brought to the post a small body of 
Spanish troops. At that time there were snuill settlements at Caron- 
delet, then called Vide Poche, and afterward Carondelet, in honor of a 
French nobleman of that name, and also at St. Charles and some other 
points within a radius of fifty or a hundred miles. Cruzat succeeded 
Piernas as governor, and he was followed in 1778 by Fernando de Leyba. 
During the administration of the latter the j^oung city was attacked ])y 
Indians, May 25th, 1780, the festival of Corpus Christi. The Avar of the 
revolution Avas then in progress, and the attack is supposed to have been 
instigated by English influence. The governor was suspected of com- 
plicit}^ in the aflair, and his barbarous conduct toAvards the inhabitants 
during the attack affords ground for the suspicion. About thirty of the 
citizens were killed, but the Indians were beaten ofl" and did not renew 
the attack. Leyba was soon after removed and Cruzat again placed in 
command. He strengthened the fortiflcations of the post by construct- 
ing a stockade, connecting stone forts, but the place was not again 
subjected to hostile operations. A period of tAventy years folloAved 
unmarked by any remarkable events. The Spanish governors in charge 
who succeeded Cruzat Avere Manuel Perez, Zenon Trudeau and Charles 
Dehault Delassus. In the latter part of 1803 the territory of Louisiana 
was ti-ansf erred back to France, in accordance Avith a treaty betAveen 
that i)ower and Spain ; but there was no general assertion of French 
control, owing to the Avar Avith Great Britain. The celebrated Louisiana 
purchase, by which the i)rovince became the property of the United 
States, was consummated the same year, and in the ensuing year Capt. 
Stoddard, acting for the French government, formally transferred it to 
the United States. 

In stating these events I have omitted all historical details, in order 
to secure brevity, conflning myself to such particulars as indicate the 
changes in governmental control. The spirit of the Spanish government 
was mild and liberal, but the progress of the young settlement Avas 
necessarily sIoav, as it was surrounded by a vast wilderness and a greater 



12 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

body of population was necessary to open the country to the influences 
of civilization. True prosperity and advancement were the fruit of 
American institutions and the restless spirit of progress that sprung from 
the independence and organization of the American Union. Capt. 
Stoddard was appointed chief officer of the provisional government 
organized by Congress, and proved a judicious and gifted governor, and 
it is from his official proceedings and a treatise published by him on 
Louisiana that the most authentic historical information of the period is 
derived. St. Louis and the adjacent district then had an aggregate 
population of 2,280, and the total population of Upper Louisiana was 
about 9,000, including 1,300 blacks. There were not more than 200 
substantial dwellings, strung along the two most important streets, 
which ran parallel to the river, and the land west of Fourth Street was 
still in a state of nature. Tliere were nothing that could be called public 
buildings ; mails were rare and infrequent. Many of the features now 
considered essential to civilized life were wholly wanting, and the fur 
trade continued to be the principal business. Such was St. Louis in the 
early years of the present century ; and it is only when we view it in its 
infancy, and contrast it with the metropolis of to-day, that an adequate 
idea is gained of the colossal growth accomplished within sixty or seventv 
years. 

During the following twenty years, various events occurred which 
indicated the commencement of a vigorous growth commercially and 
socially. A post-office was created, the Missouri Gazette, the tirst news- 
paper, was established in 1808 by Joseph Charless, and was subsequently 
merged in the present Missouri Republican. The town was incorporated 
in 1809, and a Board of Trustees elected to conduct the municipal gov- 
ernment. In 1S12 the Territory of Missouri was designated, and a 
legislative assembW authorized. The Missouri Fur Company was organ- 
ized, eml)racing among its members such well-known names as Chouteau, 
Labadie, Menard, Clark, and others. Energetic measures were adopted 
to explore the country north and west, for the purpose of settlement, 
and the extension of trade with the Indians. The judicial and educa- 
tional systems were adjusted on a permanent basis, and the trading post 
began to adajjt itself to the forms of civilization. The Missouri Bank was 
incorporated in 1817, its first president being Auguste Chouteau. The 
tirst steamboat arrived at the foot of Market Street in the year 1(S15, to be 
followed soon by others. In 1S1<) the tirst steamer ascended the Missouri, 
and the tirst throngh boat from New Orleans arrived, having consumed 27 
days in the trip. From about this i)eriod there is no lack of historical 
details respectmg St. Louis, for newspapers had begun to multiply, and 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 13 

in 1821 a City Directory Avas issued. The facts stated in this volume 
show that the town was then an important and thriving one. There 
were a number of substantial brick buildings ; the Catholic cathedral, 
commenced in 1818, was one of the finest church edifices in the country, 
and there were several other church buildings. There were ten common 
schools, three newspapers, a Masonic hall, a substantial stone jail, and 
the site had already been selected for a court house. Two steam ferries 
were operated between the Illinois and Missouri shores l)y Mr. Samuel 
Wiggins, and two fire companies with engines and other apparatus were 
in existence. The principal articles of trade were fur, peltries and lead, 
and quite a long list of agricultural productions, showing that the culti- 
vation of the soil was rapidly progressing. The annual imports were 
estimated to reach a sum of $2,000,000, and the steamboat l)usiness had 
assumed important proportions. The population of the city, as given in 
this publication, was 5,500, and of the town and county 9,732. At this 
time, however, the assessed value of taxable property was less than 
$1,000,000, and the total corporation tax less than $4,000. The town 
limits, as established by act of incorporation in 1809, were from Mill 
Creek (near site of gas works), thence westwardly to about Seventh 
Street, thence northwardly on Seventh Street to Green Street, thence 
eastwardly to the Mississippi River. 

There had been some progress made in paving the streets, but it was 
not extensive, and the streets were narrow, and the city was still confined 
to the streets in the vicinity of the river. During the succeeding ten 
years a not rapid but steady growth characterized the young city, which 
was becoming gradually known as a place with a promising future before 
it. Lafayette visited St. Louis in 1825 and was accorded an impressive 
public reception. A brick Court House was erected, which was destined 
to be succeeded by the present imposing structure. Several handsome 
Protestant Churches were erected, the United States Arsenal was estab- 
lished and Jeflerson Barracks 1)uilt. The names of the streets were 
revised and the old system of designating them by letters abandoned and 
measures were taken to construct Water Works. As illustrating how 
slowly the population changed, 1 may mention that in 1827 there were 
hardly more than a dozen German families in St. Louis. 

Nothing more forcibly illustrates the growth of the city than some 
of the items found in municipal records still in existence, and I may l^e 
pardoned a brief digression in order to present some of them. In 1811 
the assessment of real and personal property, made by Wm. C. Carr and 
Auguste Chouteau, assessors, is contained on <S folios, 16 pages, the size 
of ordinary fools cap, which also holds the tax bills. At the present day 



14 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

it requires 62 immense books, ranging from 200 to 250 pages each, to 
contain the exhibit. There were 175 persons noted as tax payers, and the 
total amount of taxable property of all kinds found sums up $120,400, total 
tax, $672.58. The items are : Houses and lots, 204 ; mills, none ; distiller- 
ies, 1 ; slaves, 82 ; horses and mules, 151 ; cattle (neat), 206 ; carriages 
of pleasure, 19 ; stores, 7. The wealthiest man was Auguste Chouteau, 
Avlio owned real estate valued at $13,000 ; 8 slaves, $2,400 ; 6 horses and 
mules, $150 ; 8 cattle, $64 ; 2 carriages of pleasure, $50 ; total, $15,664. 
Pierre Chouteau is accredited with $7,765 of this world's goods. Only 
three or four persons are charged with over $3,000, and the sums range 
principally below $100, almost the lowest amount now found on the as- 
sessment lists. The ordinance empowering this assessment, evidently the 
first regular one, was passed March lUli, isll. The rate of taxation 
was 50 cents on the $100. The assessed vahic of the city to-day is not 
far from $200,000,000. 

In the assessment of 1812 occurs the assessment of the United States 
lots, $2,000, horses $25. The municipal accounts were then a very 
simple matter, as is shown in a volume then kept by the City Auditor, 
covering the j^ears 1823-1827. It is of coarse browii paper six inches 
square, and written in a curious antique style of chirography ; it cost 
pr()l)al)ly 25 cents, and 106 numl)ered pages embrace the entries of 
three and a half years. The accounts show the number of vouchers 
for each ^■ear, as foHows.: 

Total vouchers, year 1823, - - - $3,341.67^. 

1824, - - 7,458. })5J. 

1825, - - - 3,127.87f. 

1826, - - 3,980.52. ' 

1827, - - - 5,192.91^. 

Sou'e of the entries are curious and amusing, and I give a few 
specimens : 

"Baptist (a negro) acc't, $5.75." 

At the end of every few months occurs an entry showing method 
in which official reports were then made, viz : "Accounts audited since 
my report to the Board of Aldermen." 

"Feb. 27, 1827. 

"Rui)ely & Purdy, for making 6 tine ladders for the Phenix Fire 
Company, $34.75." 



of the city of st. louis. 15 

"March 3, 1827. 

"Mary P. Ladiic, for writing deed and taking acknowledgment 
of same, $5.00." 



"March 5, 1827. 

"D. Hough; for his services as Street Commissioner, $19.50." 

"March 28, 1827. 

"Archibakl Gaml)le, for his sakiry as acting Mayor and Street 
Commissioner from KUh November, 182() to 7th January, 1827, at $500 
per annum, $72.00." It appears that the Mayor had to wait for an 
appropriation before he could get his money. 

"March 29, 1827. 

"The Herald office for publishing the election for Mayor, $2.50." 

I might greatly multiply quotations, but enough has l)oen stated to 
show the character of municipal records at the period mentioned. 

In 1830 the population had advanced to 6,(394, and of the whole State 
to 140,455. The ensuing decade witnessed a remarkable increase in both. 
Immigration was greater than at any previous period, and business enter- 
prises of all kinds rapidly multiplied. In 1835 a convention was held to 
consider the question which of all others has exercised the most important 
influence on St. Louis, viz : that of railroads. This convention undoul)t- 
edly originated and stimulated the movement which afterwards gave to 
St. Louis the Iron Mountain and Pacitic lines. In 183(5 a handsome the- 
atre was erected, and the following year the Bank of the State of Mis- 
souri was incorporated, with a capital of $5,000,000 ; the flrst gas com- 
pany was incorporated, and the building of the Planters' House was 
commenced. The population then was 16,187, and the river business 
had so increased that there were 184 steamboats en":aoed in it. The 
decade between 1840 and 1850 saw increased advancement in all kinds 
of industry and in architectural growth. I And that in 1840 there were 
manufactured 19,075 barrels of flour, 18,65(5 barrels of whisky, and 
1,075 barrels of beef inspected, and other branches of business had cor- 
respondingly increased. The St. Louis University and Kemper College 
were now in full operation, and mills, breweries, foundi'ies, and other 



16 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

manufacturing establishments had multiplied on all hands. Capital from 
abroad was attracted by a growing commerce, and the citizens ])egan to 
appreciate the foreshadowings of the metropolis of the future. The Mer- 
cantile Library Association was organized in 184G, and rapidly acquired 
that popuhirity which from a small beginning has fostered its growth, 
until it has become a pul)lic institution of wide reputation and extended 
usefulness. The close of the decade, 1849, ])rought upon St. Louis the 
double misfortune of lire and pestilence. On May the 19th a lire, orig- 
inating on the steamer "White Ck)ud," lying at the wharf, ignited the 
Imildings on the levee, and caused a general conflagration, which swept 
away the best portion of the business part of the city, causing a loss of 
over three millions of dollars. The cholera epidemic was contempora- 
neous with the fire, but its greatest ravages wci-c made somewhat later. 
In July the mortality was startling, l)eing at one time over 150 a day, 
in a population of about (15,000. It should be stated, however, that at 
that time the sewer system of the city was f)nly in its incipiency, and the 
sanitary condition of alleys, back streets, and undrained localities ex- 
ceedingly bad. Towards the end of August the epidemic had run its 
course, having carried oft' between four and five thousand persons. The 
elastic energy of the people enabled them to quickly recover from these 
extraordinary visitations, and the opening of *a new year sa'sv the city 
again on the highroad of prosperity. In 1<S51 the Pacific Railroad was 
commenced, to be followed rapidly by other railroad enterprises. The 
Chicago & Alton, Terre Haute & St. Lcuiis, Ohio & Mississippi roads 
were commenced, and the work of weaving that network of roads, which 
has made St. Louis a vast commercial centre, was fairly inaugurated. 
In 1855 the St. Louis Agricultural and Mechanical Association was in- 
corporated, and its annual expositions have materially assisted the repu- 
tation and growth of the city. 

In this swift glance at the history of St. Louis, I have only presen- 
ted a few salient facts so as to enable a person unfamiliar with our 
history to understand its leading features. It is unnecessary to pursue 
the subject further. The period from 1850 to the present time needs 
no special review. The development of our industries and trade in all 
l)ranches, tlio growth in building and population, the establishment of 
our parks, public schools and institutions, the extension of our railroads, 
the erection of our hotels and theatres, the building of the great bridge, 
of the Merchants' Exchange and the establishment of the Union Depot 
require no detailed statement, no illustration. So far as specific infor- 
mation is necessary respecting them it will be found under other divis- 
ions of this address. 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 



17 



INCKEASE OF POPULATION. 



The followini^ lio-ures show the growth of the city in population 



925 

1.400 

4,928 

5,000 

5,802 

6,397 

8,316 

12,040 

16,469 

34,140 

74,439 

1852 94,000 



1799. 
1810. 
1820. 
1828. 
1830. 
1833. 
1835. 
1837. 
1840. 
1844. 
1850. 



1856 125,200 

1860 160,773 

1866 204,327 

1870— United States Census 310,864 

1871— Estimated 350,000 

1872— " 400,000 

1873 428,126 

1874— Estimated 450,000 

1875— " 495,000 

1877— " (City Directory) 501,489 

1878— " " 503,685 

1879— " •' 600,000 



There are several contiguous towns and villages that are really 
part and parcel of the city of St. Louis, and might correctly be emln-aced 
in a statement of our population. 



ITS TRADE AND INDUSTRIES. 

Having presented a swift sketch of the St. Louis of the Past, the 
duty remains to exhibit the leading features of the St. Louis of to-day. 
It is not to be expected that I shall attempt to submit a complete statis- 
tical review of our trade and industries, as the necessary information is 
not available, and cannot be satisfactorily obtained until the pending 
U. S. census is completed. This review, consequently, will be 
confined to the more important facts and branches of trade, and such 
general observations as appear necessary to explain and illustrate them. 

The commerce and industries of St. Louis embrace a wide range of 
commodities and productions. The natural ad^antages of the situation 
of the city — the diversified productions of the immense territory of which 
it is the legitimate centre and capital, have given to its trade and manu- 
factures a truly cosmopolitan character. It is at once a distributing and 
supply point for a vast region, and its trade necessarily represents the 
wants and the productions of the population of that region, l)oth in im- 
ports, exports and manufactures. An examination of the official report 
on the trade and commerce of the city for the year just closed attbrds 
satisfactory evidence not only of the comprehensive character of the 
business done but of the rapid growth in all the more important branches 
of trade. This is particularl}' observable in the receipts of wheat and 
other grain. Thus, in 1877, the total receipts of wheat amounted to 
8,274,151 bushels, and in 1879 to 17,093,362 bushels, showing an 
increase of over one hundred per cent, in two years. In many articles a 
nearl}'^ similar increase occurred, and the receipts of cotton more than 
doubled Avithin the same period. The following table exhibits a con- 



18 



HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 



deused view of the :iagre<>ate business of the city in leading articles, for 
the years stated. Several important branches of business and manufac- 
ture are omitted, as comparative figures were not obtainable : 

Business of St. Louis in leading articles for three years : 



ARTICLES. 



Flour, amount manufactured bbls 

•' " handled " 

Wheat, total receipts bush, 

Corn, '• " " 

Oats, " " " 

Rye, " " " 

Barley, " " " 

All grain (including flour reduced to 

wheat) " 

Cotton, receipts bales 

Hemp, " " 

Bagging, manufactured yards. 

Hay, receipts, bales of 400 lbs bales. 

Tobacco, receipts hhds. 

Lead, receipts in pigs 80 lbs. average pigs. 

Hog Product, total exports lbs . 

Cattle, receipts, head. 

Sheep, " " 

Hogs, " " 

Horses and Mules, receipts " 

Lumber, " feet. 

Shingles, " pes. 

Lath, " *' 

Wool, total receipts lbs. 

Hides. " " 

Sugar, received " 

Molasses , shipped galls. 

Coflee, received bags. 

Rice, receipts bbls. 

Coal, " hush. 

Nails, " kegs. 

Potatoes, receipts bush. 

Salt, " bbls. 

" '• sacks. 

" " bush, in bulk. 

Butter Ihs. 



1871 



1,517,921 
2.9:38,328 
8,274,151 
11,847,771 
S,124,721 
472.909 
1,. 326,490 

30,885,700 

217,734 

7,930 

7,000,000 

322,344 

28,064 

790,028 

176,434.708 

411,909 

200,502 

896,319 

22.652 

163,304,150 

64,919,000 

15,973,200 

15,521,975 

20,001,031 

93,642,.'^72 

1,(!88,608 

197,099 

22,368 

35.856,850 

510,590 

753,907 

202,377 

104,406 



1878. 



1,916,290 
3,633,872 
14,.325,431 
9,009,723 
3,882.276 
845,932 
1,517,292 

36,107,334 

338,340 

5,087 

7,500 .000 

3;iO,9Sl 

25,870 

764,357 

188,529 593 

406.235 

168,095 

1,451,634 

27,878 

189,238,333 

88,0.=>9,000 

33,993,000 

16,469,816 

17,129,895 

106,836,225 

1,844,260 

201,080 

25.600 

33,087.300 

522,399 

602.675 

271.521 

78,781 



8,627,056 



1879. 



2,142,949 

4,1.54.754 
17,093,362 
13,360,036 

5,002,165 
713,728 

1,831,517 

46,037,578 

472,436 

4,072 

8,000.000 

461,979 

20,278 

817,594 

220,891.273 

420,654 

182,648 

1,762,224 

33,953 

280,986,361 

77,811,500 

27,713,700 

20,786,742 

20,042,734 

107,176,052 

1,684,960 

267,533 

34,213 

36,978,150 

675. ,538 

963,047 

244,966 

78,345 

439,788 

8,961.965 



The foreign shipments on through bills of lading during the years 
1878 and 1879 w^ere as follows tor the articles stated : 





Flour. 
Bbls. 


Cotton. 
Bales. 


Wheat. 
Bush. 


Tobacco. 
Hhds. 


Can. Beef. 
Lbs. 


Meats. 
Lbs. 


Hams. 
Lbs. 


Totals for 1879 


619,103 


214,35C 


325,012 


1,982 ■ 11.267,355 


7,535,947 


1,431,841 


Totals for 1878 


265,968 


129,821 


16,188 1 7,349 i 168,700 


8,613,706 





These tio-ures embrace only a few of the principal articles, and are 
presented simply to illustrate the extension of this department of trade. 
The o-rowth of trade is also forcibly illustrated by the following table, 
taken from the last official report, showing tonnage receipts by river and 
rail : 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 



1^ 



1879. 

Received by rail 4,663,078 

i. (. river 088.970 

Total tous 5,352,048 

Shipped by rail 2,285,716 

" " river 677,145 

Total tons 2,962,861 



1878. 1877. 1876. 1875. 

3,785,307 3,464,388 3,431,220 3,232,77 

714.700 644,485 688,755 663,525 



4,500,007 

1,880,559 
614,675 



4,108,873 

1,652,850 
597,670 



4,119,975 

1,659,950 
600.225 



3,896,295 

1,301,450 
639,095 



2,495,234 



2,250,520 



2,260,175 



1,940,545 



Of the increase of receipts, the largest proportion was from the 
West and South, and the same is true of the increase of shipments. The 
secretary of the Exchange states that " in all the leading commodities, 
with scarcely an exception, the result of the last year's business shows 
a gratifying increase." 

The foreign value of commodities imported into St. Louis during 
1879 was $1,751,840, and the duties paid $828,852.98. The amounts of 
the annual custom house collections during a period of nearly twenty 
years were as follows : 



Total col- 
^^^^- lections. 

1861 18,609.78 

1862 31.019.04 

1863 49,910.33 

1864 94,7.59.92 

1865 654.583.21 

1866 834,935.78 



..„,_ Total col - 

^^'^^- lections. 

1867 1,297,2.55.88 

1868 1,457,985.66 

1869 1,764,112.31 

1870 2.037,484.15 

1871 1,905,309.55 

1872 1,730.050.21 

1873 1,406,646.30 



. Total col- 

^^^^' lections. 

1874 1.703,591.78 

1875 1,186,202.87 

1876 1,777,369.05 

1877 1,304,731.59 

1878 1,619,375.10 

1879 850,407.28 



The tables given above are only j)artial illustrations of the business 
of St. Louis. There are numerous commodities belonging to our trade 
not embraced therein ; they do not include any showing of our various 
manufactures, nor of the business in iron, groceries, dry goods, boots and 
shoes, saddleiy, brewing, glass works, furniture making, carriage and 
wagon factories, and miscellaneous industries, nor the immense aggre- 
gate transactions of retail dealers. In the lastU. S. census, the value of 
the product of our manufactures was given at $158,761,013, and the in- 
vested capital, $60,357,001, and it is fair to presume that the increase 
during the decade just closed, has been in correspondence with the gen- 
nral growth of the city in population and wealth. In reference to miscel- 
laneous branches of city business and commerce not included in the tab- 
uhir exhibit given, a like increase may be predicated. It is in connection, 
however, with the great staple articles of human food and human use, 
that the trade and commerce of St. Louis is best exemplitied, and for 
greater distinctness I shall present such In'ief statement as I have to make 
under separate headings. 



20 



HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 



THE BANKING BUSINESS OF THE CITY. 

At the close of the year 1879 there were five national banks and 
twenty state l)anks doing business in the city. The aggregate assets, as 
officially returned, amounted to $41,821,1111. The clearings for the 3'ear 
were $1,119,368,256, against $957,268,852 for the year 1878, showing an 
increase of transactions of $162, 099, 374, which is at the rate of 17 per cent. 
Balances for the year 1879 aggregated $97,112,269, against $85,875,281 
in 1878. The policy of our banks is at once prudent and liberal ; moncA' 
rarely rules at high rates in St. Louis, and the supply is seldom restricted. 
The enormous increase in the grain and cotton trade and other impor- 
tant staples is rapidly extending banking operations, and our bankers and 
business men fully understand the situation ; new facilities and increased 
capital are always ready to meet the demands of an expanding commerce. 



VALUES OF REAL AND PERSONAL PROPERTY. 

There is no official data for estimating the municipal wealth except 
the assessment for taxes. This basis is not more satisfactory in St. Louis 
than in other large cities, because the real estate values are necessarily 
only approximations, and a large portion of the personal property either 
evades or is not subject to taxation. The aggregate assessment has been 
reduced the last few years owing to the exemption of church property and 
that held for charitable uses, under the new constitution, and to other 
causes. It Avas over $180,000,000, in 1877, and is stated at $163,813,- 
920, for the year 1879. This, to a stranger, would indicate a falling off 
in wealth, Avhen of course the reverse is the case. Adding to the present 
assessment of real and personal property a rough estimate of the values not 
inchided therein, owing to exemption and otherwise, and the aggregate 
is over $300,000,000. The official assessments commencing with 1864, 
were as follows : 



YEAR. 


City of St. Louis 
iieal Estate. 


City of St. Louis 
Real & Personal. 


YEAR. 


City of St. Louis 
Real Estate. 


City of St. Louis 
Real & Personal. 


1864 

1865 

1866 

1867 

1868 

iy(j9 


$ 53,205.820 
73.960,700 
81,961,610 
88.625,000 
94.302,370 
113,C.26,410 
119,080,800 
123,833,950 


•t 63 059,078 
87,025,534 
105,245,210 
112,907,060 
116.582,140 
138,523,480 
147,909.060 ! 
158,272,430 


1872 

1873 

1874 

1875 

1870 

1877 

1878 

1879 


•1-129,235,180 
149,144,400 
141,041,480 
131,141,020 
i;;2 ,785,450 
148,012,750 
140,976,540 
136,071,670 


.f 162. 089,570 
180,278,95(1 
172.109.270 
160,999,600 
166,441,110 
181.345,560 


1870 

1871 


172,829.980 
163,813,920 



The total tax rate on city property last year was, $2.60 on the $100, 
which included state, citv and school taxes. 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 21 

THE GRAIN TRADE. 

The vast extent of fertile agricultural territory tributary to St. Louis 
made it a fixed fact, even at an early period in its history, that the city 
was destined to control a laro-e o-i-ain trade. As the settlement and de- 
velopement of our own and adjoining states progressed, the possibilities 
of our grain trade became more apparent, but it is only within the last tAvo 
or three j^ears that our merchants have begun to realize the true proportions 
of the business. The removal of obstructions at the mouth of the Mis- 
sissippi by the completion of the jetties, has had an immense eftect in 
stimulating the trade. The markets of Europe demand the surplus grain 
products of the Great West, and now that St. Louis possesses, via New 
Orleans, a free, unobstructed water way to the sea, it is rapidly l)ecoming 
the central receiving and shipping point of these products. The transfer 
of grain from St. Louis to New Orleans in l)arges and thence to Europe 
and other countries is at present only in its incipiency . I am convinced that 
the growth of the trade during the next few years will assume an astonish- 
ing magnitude, and as the superior facilities of this route, not only in 
greater safety but reduced cost and reduced loss in handling are generally 
understood and appreciated, the receipts of grain at this city will im- 
mensely increase. The statistics given in the last otficial report of the 
Secretary of the Merchants' Exchange show how important the annual 
increase is at present. In 1878 the total receipts, including tiour reduced 
to wheat, which is the ordinary mode of computing, were 36,107,334 
bushels ; and last year, 1879, the receipts were 46,037,578 bushels. In 
wheut alone the rate of increase in St. Louis was higher than at any other 
large receiving point in the west, being about IS) 1-.") })cr cent., against 
a rate of 14 78-100 for Chicago, loledo and Detroit being much less 
than cither. The wheat receipts here in 1879 were 17,093,862, against 
14,325,431 for 1878. During the year the shipments of wheat were 
7,302,076 bushels, of which 2,715,909 were exported direct to Europe, 
and 4,359,081 went East by rail and the balance to other points. There 
were 8,996,177 bushels ground into tiour by our mills, j-ielding 2,142,949 
barrels of flour. The receipts of corn in this city last year were 13,360,- 
636 bushels, against 9,009,723 in 1878, an increase of over 48 per cent, 
and greater than at any other western city, Chicago showing but a small 
increase and Toledo a loss of over three million bushels. The aggregate 
shipments for 1879 were 8,311,005 bushels, of which 4,206,995 were 
shipped direct to Europe, 2,388,369 to the East and 1,701,805 to the 
South for consumption. There were 1,932,612 bushels ground into corn 
meal and hominj^, and 2,229,787 consumed in the city for feed and other 



22 



HISTORY, (ajOWTII AND INDUSTRIES 



purposes. In other kinds of grain there was also a substantial ini3rease 
and a satisfactory business was done. 

The receipts of barley were 1,831,507 bushels, against 1,517,292 in 
l'S7S. The shipments were small, as our maltsters and brcAvcrs used the 
bulk of the receipts in their operations. 

The business of the leading Elevators is compactly shown in the 
foUomng table : 



Total 1S79 
" 1878 
" 1877 



Bushels 

Grain 
Received. 

23,717,612 
20.048,429 
14,297,467 



Capacity 

for 

Bulk Grain. 



4,950,000 bush. 
4,025,000 " 
3,963,000 " 



Additional 

Capacity 
for Packages. 



3 0,000 sacks. 
315,000 " 
315,000 " 



There are other statistics in abundance bearinij on the orain trade of 
St. Louis that I might present, but the subject is too extensive to treat in 
detail in this paper. I have aimed only to state such facts as clearly 
show the growth, character and present extent of the trade, and suf- 
ficient have been presented for that purpose. 

THE ST. LOUIS BREWERIES. 

The ])eer made in St. Louis is among the best manufactui'ed in the 
country, and large shipments are now annually made to many points in 
the old and new world. The expansion of the business during late 3'ears 
has been steadj^ and rapid, ^and upon the most permaiiant basis. The 
production for the past three years, was as follows : 

1877 471,232 barrels, or 14,608,192 gallons. 

1878 521,684 '' 16,172,204 " 

187^ 613,067 " 19,023,677 " 

Some of the most extensive and best arranged brcAveries in the 
country are in St. Louis, such as that of the Anheuser Brewing Associ- 
ation and of W. J. Lemp. 

FLOUR. 

The manufacture of tiour has for many years been an important 
branch of St. Louis industry, and is steadily increasing. The product of 
the twenty-four mills operated last 3^ear, was 2,142,949 bbls. against 
1,916,290 bbls. for 1878, and 1,517,921 in 1877. Adding to this 
amount received and handled by jobbers, viz : 2,011,805 bbls ; we have 
a total amount handled by millers and jobl)ers during the year, of 
4,154,754 bbls. against 3,633,872 bbls. in 1878, and 2,938,328 bbls. in 
1877. The shipments aggregated 3,045,035 bbls. of which equal to 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 23 

619,103 were shipped to Europe, principally in sacks, l.()4!»,504 bbls. to 
the south, and shipments east, 1,308,387 bbls. The growth of the Hour 
business is plainly illustrated by these figures, and it is almost (piite 
certain that the same causes that are so rapidly extending the grain 
trade of St, Louis, will operate to increase manufacture in the future. 

COTTON. 

The fact that St. Louis is situated north of' the cotton producing 
region and farther from the sea seemed some years ago as a natural 
obstacle to its becoming a great cotton market. The results achieved 
during the last few years, however, have shown that it is destined to 
become in the immediate future the largest market and the controlling 
inland cotton centre of the continent. The progress has been so rapid 
and so great as to constitute one of the most emphatic triumphs in our 
commercial history, as the whole development has been effected in a 
period less than ten years. The receipts during the cotton season of 
1869 and '70 were less than for the year 1866 and '67, and the true 
growth only commenced in the season of 1870 and '71. From that date 
up to the present the receipts, as furnished to me by Mr. J. W. Paramorc, 
President of the St. Louis Cotton Compress Co., have been as follows : 

RECEIPTS. 

1S70-71 20,270 bales. 

1871-72 36,421 '' 

1872-73 59,700 " 

1873-74 .' 103,741 '' 

1874-75 133,966 " 

1875-76 245,209 " 

1876-77 217,734 •' 

1877-78 246,314 " 

1878-79 335,799 " 

The cotton j^ear commences September 1st. Receipts from Sep- 
tember 1st, 1879, to February 27th, 1880, were 430,752 bales, or about 
100,000 more than for whole last cotton year. Gross receipts this year 
are estimated by Mr. Paramore at 500,000 bales. This, at $65 per bale, 
represents $32,500,000. The value of 20,000 bales, which came to 
the city ten years ago, was about $1,300,000. This splendid progress 
has been largely caused by the extensive and complete facilities pro- 
vided in this city for the handling and shipping of cotton, and also to 
the wise and liberal spirit of the railroads connecting St. Louis with the 
cotton states west of the Mississippi river. The cotton compress of the 
St. Louis Compress Company is the largest ever constructed, having a 
capacity of compressing between 3,000 and 4,000 bales a day, ^vith 



24 HISTORY, GKOWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

covered storage ropm for 150,000 bales. This is uudou])tedly a mag- 
nificent branch of our trade, and contributes largely to our commercial 
wealth and enterprise. The shipments for the last two 3'ears w^ere as 
follows : 

1877-78. 1878-79. 

To the East 226 J29 317,26'J 

" South 10,194 ",208 

" North 3,923 1,072 

'• West....* 358 217 

Total bales 240,604 325,766 

Large as the cotton business of St. Louis now is, there is every 
prospect of an extensive increase within the next three or four years as 
cotton culture is extended in the South and Southwest. 



THE IRON TRADE. 

That the inexhaustible deposits of iron ore in the State of Missouri, 
the abundance of our coal supply should have led to extensive furnaces, 
rolling mills, foundries and iron and steel works of all kinds in the city 
of St. Louis, is not surprising. An immense industry has been devel- 
oped Avithin a period of ten or fifteen years, and notwithstanding the 
general depression of the iron trade during the last few years, it is to-day 
one of our most imi)ortant departments of manufacture. The iron busi- 
ness includes so many branches, viz. : the manufacture of pig iron and 
its conversion into l)ar iron, to steel, to castings and the making of arti- 
cles of iron such as engines, machinery, stoves, etc., all made from the 
original pig iron or bars, that it is difficult, in the absence of official 
statistics, to calculate the amount invested in the industry. The result 
of inquiries, instituted by myself into the operation of the trade, seems to 
show that the amount of capital at present invested in the business in 
this city is nearly $8,700,000, and the value of production, in view of the 
decent advance in prices, about $11, 74"), 000. This includes boiler mak- 
ing, furnaces, rolling mills, machine shops, mill machinery, nuts and 
bolts, wire and wire goods, etc., and I have no doubt the aggregate 
stated is below the real volume of the tracle. The present revival in iron 
manufacture and profitable prices will soon greatly increase the business 
in this city, OAving to our favorable situation for supplying all parts of 
the city and our boundless supplies of ore and coal. This one industry 
in itself possesses wonderful possibilities of development and of increas- 
ing our municipal wealth, because it is one that must expand with the 
increasing population and settlement of the country. It is a business 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 25 

that rests upon the basis of a great staple article of human use, one that 
is absolutely necessary in every step of commercial progress, and this 
unquestioned truth renders its extension in this city a matter of cer- 
tainty. Within a distance of less than 100 miles and connected by rail- 
roads, exists abundance of the best kind of ore ; on all sides of us and 
within a radius of thirty miles are immeasurable coal deposits, and these 
facts, in connection with the capital and the manuf;.icturing and shipping 
facilities by river and rail available here, make it evident that the futui'e 
extension of the trade must be felt most immediately and powerfully at 
St. Louis. 

DRY GOODS. 

In the wholesale and retail branches of the dry goods trade St. Louis 
does a laro-e and increasing business. Accordino; to a careful estimate 
made by Mr. Joseph Franklin, of the Wm. Ban* Dry Goods Company, 
the amount of capital employed by the dry goods houses will reach 
110,000,000 and the amount of business annually $85,000,000. During 
the last ten years the trade has doubled in the aggregate ; the jobbers 
report that the greatest increase in their business is from south west Texas 
and Arkansas. Within the past live years many new houses have been 
added to the trade, and several beautiful and substantial buildings have 
been erected for both the wholesale and retail business. During the pres- 
ent spring and the ensuing summer it is expected that the operations of 
the trade will be larger than in any previous season. 

PROVISIONS AND GROCERIES. 

The results of the packing season in St. Louis for 1878-79 shoAV 
(i29,261 hogs, against 509,540 for preceding season, and the receipts of 
product 107,821,150 lbs., against 76,070,805 lbs. for 1878. The exports 
last season were 220,891,273 lbs. against 188,529,593 in 1878. The 
shipments direct to Europe were 7,535,947 lbs. meats, and 1,431,841 lbs. 
of hams and ()48,877 lbs. lard. The balance of the shipments were to 
the south for consumption, and to eastern markets. There is only one 
other point in the United States that exceeds St. Louis in the packing 
business, and that is Chicago, and this excess will prol)abh' be only tem- 
porary. 

The aggregate amount of sales by the wholesale grocery trade of St. 
Louis, during 187!), is estimated at $22,000,000, embracing orders from 
nearl}^ all important })oints in the south and west. The year's operations 



2H 



HISTORY, (JROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 



Were considerably in exec:;;* of the previous 3'eiirs and generally satisfac- 
tory in character. The receipts of coffee in St. Louis are rapidly 
increasinof, and our coffee market is now one of the laroest in the world. 
In 1879 there were received here 2r)7,533 bags of 130 pounds each, 
and about one-eighth of the entire last Rio crop. 

The sugar trade of St. Louis has for many 3^ears been of great im- 
portance, not only from the anionnt of the capital employed in it, but 
on account of the extent of the refining operations. The receipts of re- 
fined sugar from the ejist in 1879, were 89,993 ])bls. 300 lbs. each, and 
the product of the Belcher Refinery for 10 months, 193,000 bbls ; total 
trade in refined sugars 283,000 bl)ls. Amount of raw sugar received 
for the year, was 65,225 hhds., 1,100 lbs. each, and 1,224 boxes and 595 
bags of West India sugar, the greater portion of which Avas used by the 
Belcher Refinery. These particulars are derived from the oflScial report 
of Greeley, Burnham & Co., and are entirely reliable. 

In the numerous other branches of the provision and grocery trade, 
St. Louis has an extensive and increasing trade, Init a statement of 
statistics Avould unduly lengthen this paper. 

OTHER BRANCHES OF TRADE. 

There are many other features in the trade of St. Louis that 
properly demand notice, but as some of them will l)e separately treated 
by other gentlemen, it is unnecessary for me to discuss them. 

In liA'c stock, the receipts for three years were as follows : 

Cattle. Sheei). Hogs. Horses & Mules. 

1879 420,6r)4 182,6-48 1,702,724 33,289 

1878 406,235 168,095 1,451,634 27,878 

1877 411,969 200,502 896,319 22,()52 

The business done in Lumber, during 1879, is indicated by the fol- 
lowing fio'iires : 

LUMBER SOLD IN 1879. 





Lumber, feet. 


Shingles, pes- 


Laths, pieces. 


Shipments (river and rail) 


161,953,000 
130,857,551 


37,450,000 
42,509,500 


16,300,000 
9,229,830 


Local coDBumption 




Total 


301,810,551 


79,959,500 


25,529,830 





OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 



27 



The total receipts of Tobacco for 1879 were 20,27b hogsheads, in- 
cluding 3,850 hhds. received by manufacturers from other markets, and 
balance of previous year's crop. The following statement shows the 
manufacturing operations in St. Louis for three years : 



Tobacco lbs . 

Cigars M • 

Suuflf lbs. 



1877. 



5,448,522 
33 ,920 
35.595 



1878. 



5,954,747 
36,560 
36,180 



1879. 



8,642,688 
35,042 
41,180 



The trade in Highwines and Whiskies is illustrated by the following 
figures : 

Bushels of grain mashed and distilled 614,514-59 

Spirits produced— gals 2,228,088 

Spirits rectified or compounded in 1st Dist. Mo. In 1879 — gals 2,946,871-20 

Total number of gals- gauged in this dist- by U- S- gaugers in 1879 10,650,084-36 

111 Lead, Wool and Hides, Hemp and Bagging, all kinds of Feed, 
and many other articles, a large and protital)le business was transacted. 



THE RAILROADS AND UNION DEPOT. 

The establishment of a grand railroad centre at the Union Depot was 
made a possibilit}^ by the building of the magnificent bridge over the 
Mississippi River at the foot of Washington Avenue. This structure and 
the Tunnel connecting it with the Depot forms one of the most remark- 
able engineering achievements in the world, and has given to our city 
unequaled facilities for the management of railroad traffic. It consoli- 
dates railroad business near the business centre of the city, and the trans- 
fer of passengers and freight is more convenient and expeditious and 
attended with less cost than in any other city of the country. All the roads 
enter the Union Depot through the Tunnel, except three or four, so that 
the great feature of a common railroad centre is obtained without any 
sacrifice of other interests. The railroad lines centering at the depot are 
as follows : West roads — Missouri Pacific ; St. Louis & San Francisco ; 
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific ; Chicago, Alton & St. Louis ; Missouri, 
Kansas c^ Texas ; also a numljer of other roads, the starting point of 
which is west of St. Louis, but which may be said to connect with our 
Union Depot. South roads — St. Louis, Iron Mountain & Southern ; 
Missouri, Kansas & Texas ; Belleville & Southern Illinois ; Nashville, 
Chattanooga & St. Louis (St. Louis Division) ; Cairo & St. Louis. East 
roads — Ohio & Mississippi ; St. Louis, Alton & Chicago ; Indianapolis 
and St. Louis; St. Louis, Vandalia, Terre Haute &■ Indianapolis; 



28 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific ; Illinois & St. Louis. North roads — 
Wabash, St. Louis & Pacific (Iowa Division) ; Chicago, Burlington and 
Quincy (St. Louis Division) ; St. Louis Keokuk & Northwestern. 

During the past two years our railroad system was considerably ex- 
tended, and to this fact must to a large extent be attributed the increased 
volurpe of business. The tonnage received by river and rail has been 
stated above ; St. Louis is now one of the greatest inland railroad centres 
in the world, and this fact, taken in connection with the pouring of popu- 
lation into Texas and the territory west of us, and the immense increase 
that may be expected in the agricultural and mineral production of this 
region, makes it certain that all branches of our trade must be greatly en- 
larged in the immediate future. 



THE CITY AND ITS GOVERNMENT. 

A summary of the growth, trade and wealth of St. Louis would be 
incomplete Avithout some particulars respecting the plan of the municipal 
government, the institutions established under it, and the improvements 
carried out for the purpose of increasing the attractions of the city as a 
place of residence, and the securing of social order and the best sanitary 
conditions. 

From the date of the first incorporation of the toAvn of St. Louis in 
1809 up to three years ago, there had been many changes in char- 
ter provisions and frequent extensions of the city limits. In 1822, the 
limits, as extended and defined, might be said to be embraced between 
Rutger and Biddle Streets, and Seventh Street and the river, an area of 
less than one S((uare mile, having a length north and south of not much 
more than a mile and a half, and a Avidth of about half a mile. The last 
extension of the limits was made at the time of the adoption of the present 
charter, and the city now embraces a territor}^ of over (52 square miles in 
extent, or nearly 40,000 acres, with a length of 17 miles from north to 
south, and (Jf miles from east to west. The river front is bS-i miles, and 
the length of paved wharf 3|^ miles. Length of inqn-oved streets 315 
miles, and of alleys 49 miles. It has nearly 120 miles of street railway'* 
in operation. There arc 195 miles of substantial sewers, forming an ad- 
mirable sewer system, and one that is constantly being extended. The 
cost of the sewers has been $6,093,302, of Avhich $1,209,634 has been 
expended for a single sewer, Mill Creek sewer, which runs through the 
old Mill Creek valle}'^ in the centre of the city. Incidental to the construc- 
tion of the sewers, it may be remarked that the death-rate has been 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 29 

greatly reduced as the system was extended. The hist official mortality 
statistics are elsewhere presented. 

The present plan of the municipal government presents some new 
and interesting features. The existing charter was prepared under 
authority granted by the state constitution in a special provision relating 
to St. Louis. Formerly the city was embraced in the county of St. 
Louis, and a county and a city government were both administered 
within the municipal limits. The new constitution authorized a separa- 
tion of the municipal governments, which had been congenitally united, 
and the work of preparing the scheme of separation and a charter for the 
city was intrusted to a board of thirteen freeholders, elected by the 
people for that purpose. The scheme and charter, when completed, 
were submitted to the i)eople at a special election held in 1876, and 
Avere adopted and went into operation the ensuing year. The separa- 
tion of the governments was effected without serious trouble, and a 
re-organization took place under the new law. The city became wholly 
independent of county control, and is not included in any county of the 
state. It levies and collects its own revenue and the state revenue within 
its limits, and manages and conducts its own affairs, free from all out- 
side interference and control except so far as the constitution admits of 
action by the Legislature. The constant changes in the charter in 
past years exercised a detrimental effect on the welfare of the city, and 
it was to prevent this evil that the new plan was devised. The present 
charter can be amended at intervals of two years by proposals tlierefor 
submitted by the law-making authorities of the city to the qualified 
voters at a general or special election. The legislature may amend the 
charter, but onl}^ under the restrictions respecting special legislation, 
so that it is evident the municipal government rests upon a firm and 
permanent basis highly favorable to true prosperity. 

The legislative power of the city is vested in a Council and House 
of Delegates, styled the Municipal Assembly. The Council is composed 
of thirteen members chosen on a general ticket by the voters of the city, 
and the House of Delegates consists of one member from each of the 
twenty-eight wards, elected by the voters in said ward. The mayor and 
heads of departments, including the President of the Board of Public 
Improvements, are elected by the people for a term of four years, and 
the balance of the more important officers are appointed by the mayor 
with the approval of the council. The charter generally, although not 
free from mistakes, is much the best one the city has had, and under its 
operation a better execution of public work and a more economical 
system of expenditures have uudoulitedly been secured. 



30 



HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 



THE HEALTH OF THE CITY. 



The official mortality bills of St. Louis, when compared with other 
important cities of the country forcibly illustrate the salubrity of our 
climate and the excellent sanitary condition of the city. The following 
table is carefully compiled from recent official documents : 



CITIES. 



Estimated 
Population. 



New York 1,083,371 

Philadel pbia 901 ,380 

Brooklyn 504,488 

Boston 375,100 

Chicago 450,000 

Baltimore , 36.5,000 

New Orleans 210,0«0 

Providence 100,675 

Pittsburg 145,000 

San Francisco 300,000 

Washington 1 60,000 

Cincinnati 280,000 

Cleveland 162,000 

St. Louis I 500,000 



Total Deaths. 



27,008 

15,743 

11,075 

7,635 

7,422 

6,733 

10.318 

l,9lS9 

1,446 

4,740 

4,2,54 

4,823 

2,710 

6,002 



Death Rate 
per 1000. 

24.93 

17.46 

20.15 

20.36 

16.49 

18.44 

49.13 

19.75 

21.16 

15.80 

26.59 

17.23 

16.72 , 

12.00 



The result shown by this table indicates that St. Louis is the 
healthiest cit}^ in the country, and as the utmost strictness is enforced 
here in reference to the registration of deaths, and the estimate of the 
population is moderate, 1 do not see that the statement can be refuted. 
The favoral)le situation of the city for drainage and our superb sewer 
system are undoubtedly the principal factors in producing this favoral)le 
showing. 

ARCHITECTURAL GROWTH AND CHARACTERISTICS. 



The growth of St. Louis in building during the last five or ten years 
has been more steady and substantial than any city in the country. Even 
during the late period of commercial uncertainty and depression, there 
was no pause in l)uil(ling operations, investments in real estate continu- 
ing to be made on the l)asis of confidence in the future of the city. A 
large number of important buildings for business purposes have been 
erected recentljs and the residence districts have grown more beautiful 
and extended each year. The leading characteristics of the architectural 
growth of the city is the solid and [)ermanent nature of improvements. 
The cit_f may truly be said to be one of brick, stone, and iron, reflecting 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 31 

in the substantial character of its buildings the prudent spirit and strong 
strong foundations of our commercial enterprise. It is a city built to last, 
and to fitly represent the wealth and industries of the Great West. The 
Merchants' Exchange is undoubtedly the finest edifice of the kind in the 
United States, and the business buildings on Third, Fourth, Fifth and 
Sixth Streets, and on Washington Avenue and other intersecting thor- 
oughfares, Avill compare favorably with the lousiness architecture to be 
seen anywhere. The Court House, the Four Courts and Jail, the Insur- 
ance Building, Sixth and Locust, the Lindell Hotel, are structures of 
which any city might be justly proud. The Southern Hotel is rapidly 
arising from the ashes of the conflagration that swept awav the original 
edifice, and in a short time will add its completed beauty to the architec- 
tural attractions of the city. The new Custom House and Post Office is 
approaching completion, and will be a splendid municipal feature. The 
Tunnel, connecting the Bridge with the Union Depot, runs in front of 
the eastern basement wall of the great building, aflbrding new and pecu- 
liar facilities for the deliveiy of the mails to and from passing trains. 
Many of our most costly business and public buildings have been erected 
within the past decade, and various additional architectural enterprises 
are in progress of execution — among them the St. Louis Art Museum 
and the Academy and Training School in connection with the Washing- 
ton University. The former will be an important addition to the scien- 
tific and educational features of the city, and owes its origin to the liber- 
ality and public spirit of Mr. Way man Crow, a well-known citizen. 
St. Louis, I may here remark, owes much to the generosity of private 
citizens, and particularly to Mr. Henry Shaw, whose cultivated taste has 
created the beautiful and valuable ornamental feature of the Missouri 
Botanical Garden at Tower Grove, and whose gift of the land composing- 
Tower Grove Park made that exquisite driving park a possibility. The 
universities and public and private schools of St. Louis create an edu- 
cational system unsurpassed in any city in the world, and equaled by 
few. It embraces eveiy element necessary to meet the wants of all 
classes of population, whatever may be their peculiar views, religious or 
social, while our magnificent system of public schools afl'ord a sound 
educational course free of all expense. It has been often remarked that 
this is a city of churches, and certainl}^ we possess very excellent accom- 
modations in that line. Religious opinions of every shade are repre- 
sented in our religious edifices, and many of the buildings are of remark- 
able grace and beauty, and form an important feature in the ornamentation 
of the city. During the past five or six years a number of large 
stone churches, evincing the highest architectural taste in the design, have 



32 



HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 



been erected in Stoddard Addition, which is the central residence portion 
of the city. 

The St. Louis of to-da}^ will, I believe, be greatly surpassed by the 
St. Louis of the future, but as it stands now, it represents commercially, 
socially and educationally the best fruits and advancement of modern 
civilization. In elegance and beauty, some of our residence districts will 
contrast favorably with the best streets in the older cities of the countr}^ 
and around Lafayette Park and other parks and squares, the most taste- 
ful improvements are rapidly progressing. Most of our residence streets 
are liberidl}^ provided with shade trees, and numerous improved public 
squares and private gardens add the ornamentation of foliage and of 
flowers to the appearance of many localities. 



THE PUBLIC PARKS. 



The i)ul)lic parks and other ornamental features of a city are, to a 
considerable extent, a criterion of its prosperity and of the spirit of its 
government. In this department of public improvement St. Louis has 
not neglected the demands of its population and commercial position. 
The acreage devoted to parks and squai'es is large, and they are so dis- 
tributed throughout the territor}' embraced in the municipal limits as to 
exercise the most direct influence for the beneflt of property and the 
convenience of citizens. The extent of each park and the date of acqui- 
sition are shown in the followino- table : 



When 
Acres, Acquired. 

Benton Park 14.30 ISOfi 

Carondelet Park (old) ;!.17 1812 

Carondelet Park (now) 180.00 1875 

Carr Square 2.3G 1842 

Exchange Square 12.86 1S16 

Forest Park 1,371.94 1874 

Gamble Place 1.15 1874 

GravoisPark 8. 26 1812 

Hyde Park 11.84 1854 

Jackson Place 1.(52 1829 



When 
Acre>i. Aciiuired. 

Laclede Park 3.17 1812 

Lafayette Park 29.94 1844 

Lyon Park lO.OJ 1872 

Misisouri Park 3.92 1854 

O'Fallon Park 158.32 1875 

St. Louis Place 10.80 1850 

Tower Grove Park 276.70 1869 

Washington Square (i.CO 1840 

2,107.03 



The comi)letion of the larger parks has been effected within the last 
ten years, and has gi-oatly assisted the growth and attractiveness of the 
city. The following table shows an expenditure of nearly three million 
and a half of dollaiVs for the purchase and improvement of parks : 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 



33 



Total Cost of Purchase and Maintenance of all the Parks of the City of 
St. Louis, from their establishment to April, 1880. 



PARKS. 



Benton Park 

Oarondelet Park (old).. 
Carondelet Park (new). 

Carr Square 

Exchange Square 

Forest Park 

Gamble Place 

Gravois Park 

Hyde Park 

Jackson Place 

Laclede Park 

Lafayette Park 

Lyon Park 

Missouri Park 

O'Fallon Park 

St. Louis Place 

Tower Grove Park 

"Washington Square . . . . 



Purchase. 



140,570 10 



849,058 61 
36,250 00 



95.500 00 
259,065 35 



25,000 00 



Maintenance. 



46,864 51 
3,011 86 

101,736 87 
36,. 349 64 
14,578 49 

581,685 65 
5,182 19 
18,644 79 
68,840 71 
19,788 97 
11,240 17 

322,485 25 
13,.597 22 
42,709 70 

108,882 74 
74,433 96 

540,390 06 
61,676 17 



Total 
Present Cost. 



46,864 51 

^5.011 86 

242.306 97 

36,349 64 

14,578 49 

1,430,744 26 

5,182 19 

18,644 79 
105,090 71 

19,788 97 

11,240 17 
322,485 25 

13,. 597 22 
138,209 70 
367,948 09 

74.433 96 
540,390 06 

86,676 17 



$3,477,543 01 



There are four large driving parks open to the public and visitors on 
horseback and in vehicles, viz : Tower Grove Park, with 8 miles of 
drives ; Forest Park, with 20 miles of drives ; O'Fallon Park, Avith 4 
miles of drives , Carondelet Park, with 6 miles of drives. 

The following parks have ponds and lakes for boating and skating : 
Forest Park, Lafayette Park and Benton Park, and Carondelet Park for 
skating. 

The propagation of gold fish was begun in Benton Park by the Park 
Department, of German carp in St. Louis Place by the Park Depart- 
ment, of German carp in Forest Park by the State Fish Commission. 

An excellent band is engaged during the summer season at Lafayette 
Park every Thursday afternoon, aftd Tower Grove Park every Sunday 
afternoon. 

CITY INSTITUTIONS AND BUILDINGS. 

The city government has established a large number of charitable 
and correctional institutions, of the character and operation of which I 
present a brief sketch. 

The City Hospital. — This institution is situated almost in the 
heart of the city, on the corner of Lafayette and St. Ange avenues ; the 
grounds enclosed cover about five acres ; it was commenced and a portion 
of it was built in 1846. In 1848 the buildings were estimated to be 
worth $75,000. On the 15th of May, 1856, the hospital was destroyed 
by fire, it was rebuilt in 1857 at a cost of about $62,000. 



34 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

During the years 1872, '3, '4 and '5 there was expended in putting 
up new Iniildings and improvements, $75,000. The total vahie of the 
buildings and improvements now is probably about $150,000. 

This hospital receives from 2,300 to 2,800 patients yearly, and has 
an average number daily in it of about 210 patients ; the institution has 
beds and capacity for about 400 patients. 

The annual cost to the city of maintaining the hospital is about 
$48,000. 

Female Hosptal. — This institution stands on the Old Manchester 
Road, about five miles from the Court House, and has connected with it 
about sixteen acres of ground. It Avas built in 1872 ; the cost of the 
ground and buildings was about $90,000. It was erected under what 
was known as "the Social Evil Law," and its cost was nearly all de- 
frayed by fines and fees arising from the operation of that law, which is 
now repealed. In 1874 by an act of the State Legislature the title to 
the property was vested in the city of St. Louis, and the name was 
changed to that of the " Female Hospital," and by ordinance of the 
city passed in the same year it was made a general Hospital for females. 
There are yearly sent to this institution about 1,200 persons. The 
number of women confined there yearly is about 185. The average 
number of patients daily in this hospital is about 180. The cost of main- 
taining this institution is about $35,000 annually. 

Insane Asylum. — This institution was built about fourteen years 
ago, under the direction of the County Court of St. Louis County; the 
exact cost of the building I have been unable to ascertain, but it is gene- 
rally understood to have been $1,000,000. It is located about five miles 
from the Court House, on Arsenal Street, and has connected with it 
about 35 acres of ground. It is the finest and best constructed building 
the city possesses ; it contains now about 310 insane patients, and is 
maintained at a cost of about $60,000 a year. 

Poor House. ^-This building was erected by direction of the 
County Court of St. Louis Count}^ about seven years ago. The cost 
was about $400,000. It is situated on the Arsenal road, about a 
quarter of a mile west of the Insane Asylum, and has connected with it 
about thirty-eight acres of ground. The Potter's Field of the city is 
connected and attached to the land of this institution. 

The numl)er of insane persons the city is called upon to provide for 
necessitated the converting of a large portion of this institution into 
wards for the care of the insane. The number of insane persons now 
in this institution is 330, and the number of paupers (old and decrepid 
persons) is about 300. 



OF THE CITY OF ST, LOUIS. 35 

The cost of maintaining this institution is about $72,000 annually, 
which cost is partl}^ met by a profit realized by baking bread for the 
other institutions of the city — the profit being about $12,000 per annum. 
The amount of bread baked at the Poor House is about 850,000 pounds 
annually. 

Quarantine and Small Pox Hospital. — The grounds on which 
those two institutions are located was acquired l)y the city in 1854, for 
the purpose of establishing a quarantine station. There were sixty 
arpens acquired by the purchase at a cost of $5,000, and some $10,000 
was afterwards spent in erecting buildings and in otherwise improving 
the place. In 1867 the Small Pox Hospital on Arsenal Island was 
removed to this point and other buildings were erected, and from time 
to time afterwards the buildings were increased and enlarged. The 
total amount expended there for buildings and improvements was about 
$70,000. It was continued as a general hospital and also as a small 
pox hospital until 1875, when it was partially abandoned, only a portion 
of it being maintained for the treatment of small pox patients. 

In 1878, the outbreak of the yellow fever in the south necessitated 
the re-opening of the institution as a quarantine station, and in the 
spring of 1879 the frame wards being in a dilapidated condition, and 
supposed to be badly infected with the germs of disease, weie burned 
down and new wards and other improvements made ; the cost of these 
improvements was a])out $11,000. 

As the institution stands to-day, it has large wards, furnished and 
equipped for the accommodation of about 80 small-pox patients, and in 
addition there are six large wards, with a capacity for accommodating 
150 patients whenever it becomes necessary to use it as a quarantine 
station. 

In addition to what is mentioned above, there are large brick and 
stone buildings for the accommodation of ofiicers, store rooms, &c. 

The House of Refuge. — This institution has for its object the care 
of juvenile otfenders against the laws, and of homeless and abandoned 
children thrown upon the hands of the city authorities. The male and 
female departments are in separate buildings, and have connected with 
them about fifteen acres of ground, and are agreeably situated in the 
southern portion of the city. The cost of maintenance is about $35,000 
per annum. The lalior of the boys in the shoe shop attached to the 
institution is profitable. The total amount refunded to the city treasury, 
in the fiscal year, by the institution, is about $'J,000. The buildings arc 
old, and form really the remains of an original structure which was par- 
tially destroyed by fire in 1865. The Legislature has provided means 



36 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES 

for enlarging the buildings, as they are much too small, but the Munici- 
pal Assembly has not passed the necessary ordinance authorizing the 
work. There are generally between 250 and 300 children on the books. 

The Work Hoise. — This institution is situated on the Carondelet 
road, near the southern end of the city. It is a place of continement and 
hard labor for offenders brought before our police courts. Its cost of 
maintenance is about $40,000, and the number of prisoners received an- 
nually is l)etween 2,000 and 3,000. The able-bodied laborers are em- 
ployed in breaking stone for street purposes, and in grading streets. 
The value of the buildings is probably about $50,000. 

The Jail. — The jail is one of the largest and best arranged in the 
country, and is in the rear of the Four Courts building and immediately 
adjoining the Police Head-Quarters. It costs about $22,000 to maintain 
it — the greater portion, of which is refunded to the city by collections 
for the keeping of state prisoners, etc. It is wholly an iron building, so 
arranged that the watchman can see the doors of all the cells from his 
central station. 

The Four Courts, Cojirt House and City Hall constitute the more 
important public buildings owned by the city government, and taken 
together with the valuation of the institutions named, represent an ag- 
gregate not far from $5,000,000. If the value of Fire Engine Houses, 
Police Stations, Water Works property, etc., is added, of course the sum 
would be greatly extended. 

THE FIRE DEPARTMENT. 

The city has organized a most complete Fire Department for the 
protection of property. The twenty engine houses represent a cost of 
$1H8,000, the twenty steam fire engines, hose carriages, etc., $137,000, 
and the value of 128 horses, harness, furniture, wagons, etc., is $34,000 ; 
total, $.339,000. All the engines and apparatus are of the best modern 
pattern, and the force of men is efficient and well disciplined, and 
commanded by a chief of experience and ability. There is no city in the 
country of approximate size with abetter equipped fire department. The 
best system of Fire Alarm Telegraph is in operation, by which immediate 
notice of fire can be sent to the engine houses from the most distant res- 
idence districts. The cost of supporting the department is about $270,000 
per annum, including the alarm system. 

THE WATER WORKS. 

The water sujiply of a great and growing city is always a matter 
of pressing and paramount importance. In St. Louis an elaborate and 



OF THE CITY OF ST. LOUIS. 37 

costly system of water-works has been constructed by which a plenti- 
ful supply of wholesome water has been secured in all quarters of the 
city. The water is taken from the Mississippi river, some distance 
from the shore, and pumped into settling basins at Bissell's point. 
It is allowed to stand in these basins until the sediment has settled, and 
it is then pumped into the main pipes leading to the city and the surplus 
to Compton hill reservoir, in the southwestern portion of the city. The 
distributing system of pipes is supplied from the stand-pipe on Grand 
avenue and from the Compton hill reservoir. 

According to the last official report the quantity of water pumped into 
the city averaged 24,350,000 U. S. gallons daily, and the cost of pump- 
ing one million gallons (both services) was $15.20, of which $4.5U was 
for pumping at low service into settling basins, and $10.61 for pumping at 
high service into city. The cost of these works was in the neigh])orhood of 
$6,000,000, and the operating expenses, as per last report, aggregated 
nearly $200,000 for the year. At the time the works were constructed 
it was supposed their capacity of supply would be equal to the wants of 
the city for a long term of years, but so rapid has been our municipal 
growth that already the necessity of extending them is becoming appa- 
rent. The water of the Mississippi is agreeable to drink, free from 
impurities, and under the conditions which it is distributed by the present 
S3^stem, entirely healthful in character. Careful analyses by competent 
chemists have demonstrated this fact, and it is further corroborated by 
the remarkable salul)rity of the city as shown by the mortality reports 
presented above. During the prevalence of cholera in 1866, the most 
severely afflicted localities were those where water taken from wells was 
used. It has also been frequently proved that Mississippi water when 
confined in casks will preserve its freshness and purity longer than 
any other known in the country, and owing to this fact is particularly 
desired for ship use. 

THE POLICE FORCE. 

The Police Force of the City numbers over 500 men, and requires 
for its maintenance about $550,000 per annum. There is a voluntary 
auxiliary organization, known as the "Police Reserves," numbering 
nearly 550 men, which was called into existence during the riots of 
1877, and has been perpetuated in the interests of law and social order. 
The police force is well drilled and is in a high state of efficiency, but is 
hardly adequate for the patrol of the immense territory embraced in our 
city limits. It affords me pleasure to state, however, that the protec- 
tion of life and property in this city, as indicated by the official statistics 



38 HISTORY, GROWTH AND INDUSTRIES OF ST. LOUIS. 

of crime is in every respect excellent. The city is divided into six 
police districts, containing eleven station houses. The arrests for the 
last fiscal year were as follows : State cases, (these cases embrace all 
serious crimes), 1,460; City cases, (violations of ordinance), 12,576. 
Value of stolen and lost mone}' and other property returned to owners, 
through the instrumentality of the Police force during the year, 
$151,442.15. 

CONCLUDING REMARKS. 

The statements and statistics presented in this paper are mainly 
derived from official sources, and are entirely reliable. I have aimed 
only to present such matters as seemed to have immediate bearing on 
the subject allotted to me, and calculated to convc}' desiral)le and im- 
portant information respecting the growth and present condition of the 
city. The publication of the U. S. Census, now being taken, will supply 
much detailed information respecting our trade and industries that I 
could not conveniently procure, particularly in reference to our manu- 
factures ; but the exhibits I have presented are, I think, sufficient to 
show the prosperous and advancing condition of St. Louis In all im- 
portant elements of wealth, in population and in volume of business and 
commercial enterprises of all kinds, the city is rapidly and constantly in- 
creasing. This civic growth, as I have shown, does not spring from 
local or sectional causes — it is part of the great movement of our State, 
of the West and South, in the path of progress. The city is advancing, 
together with the boundless country of which it is the representative, 
and the future of both involves at no distant day, not only a commercial 
and political supremacy within the limits of the Union, but one whose 
influence must be felt throughout the world. 



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